Tape rolls holding and display box

ABSTRACT

A selectively openable and closeable display box or carton for holding a plurality of rolls of tape for display. The carton has a front panel with a plurality of window openings therein and a back panel provided with a corresponding plurality of window openings. A fold line is provided along the longitudinal center portion of each of the front and back panels across the series of window openings. Sidewalls connect the opposite ends of the front and back panels along integral corner folds of the carton. The front and back panels are adapted to fold inwardly along their respective longitudinal fold lines, whereby they are moved toward each other and releasably held with their fold lines adjacent one another so that rolls of tape can be held in the opposed window openings.

ilaied States Patet [72] lnventor Seiichi Okutani Osaka, Japan [21 IAppl. No. 874,652 [22] Filed Nov. 6, 1969 [45] Patented Nov. 30, 1971[73] Assignee Nitto Electric industrial (10., Ltd. [32] Priority Nov;14. 1968 [33] Japan [31 l 43/83637 [54] TAPE ROLLS HOLDING AND DISPLAYBOX 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 206/4514, 206/4518, 21 1/40, 229/28 [51] lat.Cl.. .1 VB6Sd5/50, 865d 5/52, A47f 1/14 [50] Field oiSearch ,1 .1 206/4518. 45.14, 65 R, 72 73; 229/14 C, 28 R;211/40,41

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,259,234 7/1966 Wood206/4514 2,431,535 11/1947 Bergstrom 206/73 FOREIGN PATENTS 818,9428/1959 GreatBritain Primary Examiner Leonard Summer Attorney-Wenderolh.Lind & Ponack ABSTRACT: A selectively openable and closeable display boxor carton for holding a plurality of rolls of tape for display. Thecarton has a front panel with a plurality of window openings therein anda back panel provided with a corresponding plurality of window openings.A fold line is provided along the longitudinal center portion ofeach ofthe front and back panels across the series of window openings.Sidewalls connect the opposite ends of the front and back panels alongintegral corner folds of the carton. The front and back panels areadapted to fold inwardly along their respective longitudinal fold lines,whereby they are moved toward each other and releasably held with theirfold lines adjacent one another so that rolls of tape can be held in theopposed window openings.

PATENTEUunv 30 IQYI SHEET 2 BF 3 TAPE ROLLS HOLDING AND DISPLAY BOX Thisinvention relates to a display box or carton for holding a plurality oftape rolls for display.

In the specification and claims the term tape roll means various tapessuch as pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, moisture-active tape(sometimes referred to as gum tape), solvent-active or nonadhesive tapeor the like which is wound into a roll form. Typically, such tape iswound around a tubular core into a roll.

It has been a conventional practice that, when such rolls are placed onthe market for sale in retail stores, each roll is packed in a paper boxor metal can. However, there are drawbacks that the packing operation isdifficult or troublesome, handling is not easy, it is impossible toinspect the packed roll from outside. Further, such package is notattractive from the display point of view.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide selectively andreadily openable and closeable carton for holding a plurality of taperolls in such a manner that any desired tape roll (s) can be easilytaken out or inserted in the carton by a very simple operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carton of the typementioned just above which can hold a plurality of tape rolls with anattractive display effect.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a carton of thetype mentioned above which can hold a plurality of tape rolls in such amanner that each roll is partly exposed out of the carton so that it isvisible from outside for inspection and for effective display.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carton of the typementioned above which is simple in the structure and easy to manufactureand assemble.

Further objects, advantages and features of this invention will beapparent from the following description.

These objects of this invention are accomplished according to theinvention by providing a carton which comprises a front panel providedwith a plurality of window openings arranged in series, a back panelprovided with a plurality of window openings respectively correspondingwith the openings in the front panel, a folding line provided on each ofsaid panels along its lengthwise center and across the series of thewindow openings, a first sidewall connecting the front panel and backpanel at one side, a second sidewall connecting the front panel and backpanel at the other side, each of the front panel and back panel beingadapted to be folded inwardly along the folding line so that when thefront panel and back panel are so folded inwardly and toward each otherthe tape roll can be held in the adjacent window openings on the frontand back panels.

Each opening is rectangular and has a length slightly longer than thetape roll diameter and has a width slightly larger than the width of thetape so that the tape roll can barely pass through the opening beforethe panel is folded. However, when the front (or back) panel is foldedinwardly as mentioned above the tape roll can not pass through thewindow opening. As will be understood, the front panel, back panel,first sidewall and back sidewall together form an open-ended carton.When the carton is used for display or otherwise in an upright manner,it will be deemed to have an upper and lower end. Preferably, one of thesidewalls is provided at its lower end with an end flap to close thebottom opening of the carton after the both panels have been folded.Similarly, one of the sidewalls may be provided at its upper end withanother end flap to close the upper opening of the carton after the bothpanels have been folded.

The invention will be explained in more detail by referring to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a front view of a carton embodying the present inventionbefore closing both open ends;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carton;

FIG. 4 is a view showing the state in which the rear panel is fullyfolded together to lie one half over the other half and the front panelis not folded for another form of display position in which form the endpanels are preferably omitted or removed;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the form of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of one developed cutout of the carton blank priorto being assembled into a carton of the invention.

The material for forming a carton of this invention may be paper (sheetor board) or any other suitable material such as synthetic resin sheet,for example, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, etc. provided it is selfsupporting. Preferably, a single and integral sheet in a shape adaptedto be assembled into a carton is stamped out from a single-sheetmaterial. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, a sheet as shown inFIG. 6 is stamped out. Indicated with I is a front panel, 2 is a backpanel, 3 is a first sidewall and 4 is a second sidewall. One of thesidewalls has a lower end flap at lower end, and one of the sidewallshas an upper end flap at the upper end. In the embodiment shown, thefirst sidewall 3 has a lower end flap 5 and the second sidewall 4 has anupper end flap 6. The end flaps 5 and 6 are provided respectively withinsertion lips 7 and 8 in the usual manner. Preferably, the upper endflap 6 is formed at one side with a suspender tab 9 having a hole 10.Along the longitudinal marginal of the back panel 2 there is provided anarrow side flap 11.

The front panel 1 is formed with a plurality of window openings 12(there are five openings in the embodiment shown). Correspondingopenings 13 are also formed in the back panel 2 as shown. Each openingis rectangular and has a length and width slightly larger respectivelythan the diameter and width of a tape roll to be held by the carton.Along the longitudinal centerline and across the series of the openingsthere is formed a folding line 14 on the front panel 1. A similarfolding line 15 is also formed on the back panel 2. As shown the windowopenings on each panel are arranged in parallel and with a suitablespace between adjacent openings. The openings 12 on the front panel 1and the openings 13 on the back panel 2 are in symmetrical relationshipwith each other.

Indicated with the letters a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h and i are foldinglines.

In assembling the above-mentioned sheet material into a carton of theinvention, the various portions are folded inwardly along the foldinglines a, b, c, d, e,f, g, h and i, and then the surface of the side flap11 is bonded to the back surface of the second sidewall 4 along thelongitudinal marginal by means of a paste, adhesive or the like (FIG.3). The carton thus assembled is now ready for use.

In packing tape rolls in the carton, each tape roll T is inserted intothe carton through the window opening. Then, the front panel 1 and backpanel 2 are folded inwardly along the respective folding lines so thatthe tape T engages the edges 16 and 17 of the openings 12, 13 and cannotslip out from the openings. Then, the upper end flap 6 covers the upperopen end of the carton and the lip 8 is inserted inside the upper endportion of the first sidewall 3. Similarly, the lower open end of thecarton is covered by the lower end flap 5 and the lip 7 is insertedinside the lower end portion of the second sidewall 4. In this way thecarton assembly is fixed with the tape rolls removably held therein. Itwill be understood that each end flap 5, 6 is of such a dimension thatit will fit the open end of the carton in the state where the bothlongitudinal middle portions of panels I and 2 have been foldedinwardly.

As will be understood, the first sidewall 3 and the second sidewall 4are identical in dimension, and the front panel 1 and back panel 2 areidentical in dimension. Preferably, the relationship of these walls andpanels in respect of their widths is such that when the panels 1 and 2are folded inwardly the folding edge 18 of the front panel 1 and thefolding edge 19 of the back panel 2 will abut or contact with each other(FIG. 2 and FIG. 3). In order to render the carton assembly more rigidit is preferable to releasably connect the edges 18 and 19 at the lowerend and/or upper end by a suitable fastener 20 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2and 3. However, the end flaps 5 and 6 also serve exceptionally well toreleasably maintain the inwardly folded edges 18 and 19 in good adjacentrelationship. The suspender 9 can be used to hang the carton with thetapes held therein for display. In this case the hole 10 is utilized tohook the suspender 10 on a nail or the like. Since the tapes are partlyexposed out of the window openings 12, 13 they are visible from outside.

When it is desired to take out any tape roll, both end flaps 5, 6 arepulled out and one or both panels 1 and 2 is pulled back (unfolded) tothe original plane form to disengage the edges 16 and/or 17 from thetape The tape is now free to he slipped out from the window openings. ifdesired, the taken-out tape roll may be replaced with a new one in thisstate of carton. Then the unfolded panel (s) is again folded inwardly toretain the tape roll and thereafter the end flaps are again returned tothe ordinary closure position If desired, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, itwould be possible to fully fold the back panel 2 so that its one halfwould he on the other half, while the front panel l is not folded.Preferably, the folded edge of the back panel 2 is fixed to the frontpanel it along the latters folding lines by means of a releasablefastener 20. The carton in this state may be placed horizontally fordisplay as shown with the second sidewall 4 forming the bottom and thefirst sidewall 3 forming the back support. ln this state, the tape rollcan be freely taken out or inserted in the window opening 12 withoutdisassembly or opening and closing of end flaps. Further, in this case,the end flaps 5 and 6 are not necessary and therefore may be removed ifdesired.

What I claim is:

1. A selectively openable and closeable merchandising and display cartoncomprising a plurality of interconnected front, side, back and closeableend panels, which carton is used to hold and display a plurality ofpredetermined sized tape rolls, wherein the front and the opposed backpanels are each provided with correspondingly disposed and sizedspaced-apart rectangular window openings respectively only slightlylarger than the cross-sectional diameter and width of a given size taperoll to be carried therein to enable the rolls to barely passtherethrough during initial packaging thereof; each of said front andback panels having a folding line formed along its longitudinal centeracross the series of window openings; each of the front and back panelsbeing adapted to be folded inwardly along their respective longitudinalcenter fold lines toward each other; the sidewalls are constituted byfirst and second opposed sidewall panels interconnecting the front andback panels in generally parallel relation; each of the sidewall panelsbeing integrally connected via fold lines with said end panels or flapswhich are of predetennined size related to and for determining theamount of inward folding of said front and back panels when assembledsuch that upon said inward folding of said front and back panels, theseven lengths of the window openings are effectively reduced with theattendant nearing of said opposed sidewall panels, and the closed endflaps thereby releaseably close opposite ends of the carton and the taperolls are captively held in said window openings of effectively reduceddimension.

2. A carton as defined in claim 1 wherein the respective inwardly foldedfront and back panels engagingly abut or contact one another along thecenter longitudinal fold line thereof,

3. A carton as defined in claim 2 further including releasable fastenermeans to adjoin the opposite ends of said front and back panels toreleasably retain them in said contact form.

4. A carton as defined in claim 1 wherein said carton is adapted todisplay circular rolls of tape, and the carton opposite end flaps eachhave a squared portion whose linear dimensions are substantially equaland correspond generally to the diameter of the tape rolls to bedisplayed, and said end flaps each further include an integrally formedterminal inser tion lip connected via a fold line and said lips servingto releasably retain the end flaps in the carton end closingrelationship when folded within the carton.

5. A carton as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said carton end flapsis provided with one integrally formed suspender flap portion adapted tobe folded transversely to the flap when in use and apertured tofacilitate suspending the carton upon a hook for display with thecartons longitudinal dimension in a generally vertical disposition.

1. A selectively openable and closeable merchandising and display cartoncomprising a plurality of interconnected front, side, back and closeableend panels, which carton is used to hold and display a plurality ofpredetermined sized tape rolls, wherein the front and the opposed backpanels are each provided with correspondingly disposed and sizedspaced-apart rectangular window openings respectively only slightlylarger than the crosssectional diameter and width of a given size taperoll to be carried therein to enable the rolls to barely passTherethrough during initial packaging thereof; each of said front andback panels having a folding line formed along its longitudinal centeracross the series of window openings; each of the front and back panelsbeing adapted to be folded inwardly along their respective longitudinalcenter fold lines toward each other; the sidewalls are constituted byfirst and second opposed sidewall panels interconnecting the front andback panels in generally parallel relation; each of the sidewall panelsbeing integrally connected via fold lines with said end panels or flapswhich are of predetermined size related to and for determining theamount of inward folding of said front and back panels when assembledsuch that upon said inward folding of said front and back panels, theseven lengths of the window openings are effectively reduced with theattendant nearing of said opposed sidewall panels, and the closed endflaps thereby releaseably close opposite ends of the carton and the taperolls are captively held in said window openings of effectively reduceddimension.
 2. A carton as defined in claim 1 wherein the respectiveinwardly folded front and back panels engagingly abut or contact oneanother along the center longitudinal fold line thereof.
 3. A carton asdefined in claim 2 further including releasable fastener means to adjointhe opposite ends of said front and back panels to releasably retainthem in said contact form.
 4. A carton as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid carton is adapted to display circular rolls of tape, and the cartonopposite end flaps each have a squared portion whose linear dimensionsare substantially equal and correspond generally to the diameter of thetape rolls to be displayed, and said end flaps each further include anintegrally formed terminal insertion lip connected via a fold line andsaid lips serving to releasably retain the end flaps in the carton endclosing relationship when folded within the carton.
 5. A carton asdefined in claim 1 wherein one of said carton end flaps is provided withone integrally formed suspender flap portion adapted to be foldedtransversely to the flap when in use and apertured to facilitatesuspending the carton upon a hook for display with the cartonslongitudinal dimension in a generally vertical disposition.